Liquid-dispensing machine



Aug. 14, 1923. M65122 J. FRICK LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE F'ild May 1.1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fly. 1.

cr IH ONE NICKEL Inaezztorx Jakia -1 5 (0/57,

Aug. 14 1923.

11,465,122 J. FRICK LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1922 5Sheets-Sheet 2 I?! J m Aug; M, 1923.

J. FRICK LIQUID DISPENS ING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 1, 1922Aug, 14, 1923. 11,465.1122

J. FRICK LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed May 1. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet' iiI E I i j; i J

114' HI I 127 11:;

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Patented Aug. lid, 112%..

- @TATIES earner eastern Jenn FEECIK, L JPIBI ILADELPIBIEA, PENNSYLVANMV LIQUID-DISPENSING HAGIElllNE Application area ma 1, recs. seen in.erases.

To all whom it may conceive.-

Be it lrnown that ll, Jenn l nrcn, a citize'n of the United Statesresiding at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania., have invented new and useful improvements inLiquid-Dispensing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for dispensing liquids, and moreparticularly to a machine of this character adapted to dispense aplurality of liquids substantially simultaneously, or in closesuccession.

Apparatus of this general type are broadly old, and it is the object ofthe present invention to improve upon machines heretotore lhnown byproviding simplified operating mechanism which may be readily operatedmanually, and which will permit accem to be had to the working parts torcleansing purposes without interference with the operating mechanism. 7

A prime object of the invention is a simple construction positive. inthe operation of its various parts so that the mechanism' 1s not liableto become out of order;

An additional object of the invention is to associate with'the operatingmechanism a simple and eficient check controlled mechanim'i providedwill prevent the delivery of more than a predetermined ount of liquidwith each check or'token.

Other objects of the invention reside in the more detailed features ofconstruction set forth in the following description; these objects ofthe invention will become clear as the description proceeds inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown oneform of a device in which the invention may be embodied. In thedrawings: I n

Fig. 1 is a partial front'elevational view with a portion of the casingbroken away to illustrate certain features of the operatin mechanism,

line 2-2 of Fig. 4,

3 is a si e elevation,

Fig. 4: 1s a rear elevational view with certain parts broken away,

' 5'is'a horizontal cross section taken F1 on aline below the mainliquid container,

with locking devices which- Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of theoperating mechanism,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged. view of the lower end of; the valve stem showingthe operatin pinion in cross section,

l ig. 8 is a detail of the supporting bracket for a portion of theoperating mech- 6 anism, and

Fig. 9 is an end elevational section showin the support for the valveoperating raclr.

referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, and morepartic- 5 ul-arly to Figs. 2 and 5, 10 indicates a platform or basemounted upon suitable uprights 11 and having a front wall 12 serving toconceal the operating mechanism and liquid containers. A plurality ofver- 79 tical rods or standards 13, in the present instance four innumber, rest upon the base, and at their upper ends serve to sustain anurn 1d having therein a smaller container 15 adapted to receive codes orother liquid to be served. of the urn 1t 15 may be In the space betweenthe wall and the wall of thecontainer positioned suitable means, such asa steam coil (not shown) for maintaining the liquid in the container 15hot. A w casting 16 extends through the bottom 17 of the urn and issecured to the bottom 18 of the cofiee container. This casting ,isformed'with a measuring cup 19 opening into the container 15 at itsupper end and so normally shut off therefrom by means of a valve 20having a stem 21 extending through the center of the cup and downwardlythrough the bottom of the casting. Within the measuring cup and keyedupon w the valve stem for rotation therewith is a rotary valve 22 havinga flange 23, which serves to close an outlet port 24 in the measuringcup.- The flange 23 is provided with a port 23 adapted to register withthe port 95 24 in order to permit the liquid to flow therethrough, theliquid passing through a suitable outlct tube 25 which extends throughan opening 25' in the front wall of the cast- 1g. 2 is a vertical crosssection on the Beneath the valve 22 the cup is provided with-a second sothat any liquid which leaks ing or frame. measurin outlet 24:

past the valve may make its. exit through I fixedly secured by throughthe pinion upon its the extension is mounted for rotary movement in asleeve 28 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is means of set screws 29 in a bracket30 positioned upon the base or platform 10. The lower end of the valvestem extension has formed thereon a key 31 (Figs. 2 and 7) which servesto connect the valve stem and its extension for rotary motion with apinion 32 journaled in a collar 33 on the bracket 30. Rotation of thepinion resultsin rotation of the stem through its extension, and alsorotation of the valve 22, which closes the port 24 preliminary to theraising of the valve 20 to permit liquid to flow into the measuring cup.The valve stem extension 26 has secured therein a pin 34, (Figs. 2 and4) the outer end of which extends through a circumferentially extendingand upwardly inclined slot 35 in the sleeve 28, and a roller 34 upon thepin is adapted to engage the edge of the opening as the valve stemextension is rotated lower end. It will be observed from an inspectionof Fig. 4 that the initial portion of the slot 35 is in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, and during the passage of the pin 34 through thisportion of the slot the valve stem is simply rotated, but as therotation of the valve stem extension continues the roller 34', engagingthe upwardly inclined portion of the slot, causes the valve stemextension, the valve stem and the valve 20 to be moved upwardly, thuspermitting the liquid to flow into the measuring cup; but it will beunderstood that previous to the lifting of the valve 20 the flange 23 ofthe valve 22 has closed the exit port 24.

The mechanism for 0 rating the valve mechanism above descn fed ispreferably coin or check controlled so that liquid will not be dispenseduntil the'operator has'in serted in the machine a suitable check ortoken of predetermined value. This mechanism, which will now bedescribed comprises a manually operable reciprocable bar 36 (Fig. 3)having an extension 37 pivotally connected thereto at 38 and projectingthrough the front wall of the casing, where it is provided with asuitable knob 39 adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator. Therear end of the bar is pivotally connected'to a lever 40 tulcrumed upona stud 41 secured in an arm 42 extending from a bracket 43 positionedupon the platform 10. The lower end of the lever 40 is pivupon a rockshaft 47.

otally secured to a connecting rod 44 which extends forwardly and issecured by means of a pin 45, Figs. 1 and 3, to the forked upper end ofa rocket arm46 fixedly mounted The rock shaft 47 has bearings in abracket 48 and has. fixedly securedthereon beside the rocker arm 46 asecond upwardly extending rocker arm 49 (Fig. 1) pivotally connected atits upper posited through the slot 53 (Fig. 1) in the front wall 12. Theopen lower end 55 of the chute is located directly above the lip 52 anddirects the coin to the latter. The push rod 50 cooperates with aplunger 57 having a forward hollow end 56 which receives the end of thepush rod 50 unlem a coin is interposed between the push rod and plunger,this type of coin controlled mechanism being well known needs no furtherdescription. The plunger 57 is slidably mounted in the sleeve 58 ofbracket having legs 58' (Figs. 3 and 9) and is pivotally secured at itsrear end to a link 59, which, in turn, is pivotally connected to theintermediate portion of a downwardly extending rocker arm 60 (Figs. 3, 4and 8). The rocker arm 60 is fixedly secured to and supported upon arock shaft 61 which has bearings in the upper end of bracket 43 and in abracket arm 62 (Fig. 5) supported upon one of the uprights 13. The lowerend of the rocker arm 60 is pivotally connected by means of a link 63 toa rack 64 slidably mounted in bearings 65 in the vertical leg portions58' of the bracket carrying plunger sleeve 58.- The rack 64 is inengagement with the pinion 32 upon the valve stem extension, andobviously, reciprocation of the rack will result in opposite rotarymovements of. the pinion.

It will'be understood, of course. that unless a suitable token ispositionedbetween the push rod 50 and the plunger 57, movement of theplunger by means of the mechanism above described will result merely inthe forward end of the push rod, being projected into the hollow endof'the plunger without movement of the plunger or the pinion operatingrack to which it is connected. 'Upon insertion of a coin, however,between the push rod and plunger, and the withdrawal of the manuallyoperable rod the shoulder 67, but is normally restrained from suchengagement by means of an arm. 7-1 extending downwardly from themanually operable bar 36. The arm 71 engages a pin 72 extendinglaterally from the latch and holds the latch in the raised. positionenemas shown in Fig. 6, but when the operator withdraws the bar 36 andthereby disengages the arm 71 from the pin 72 the latch is permitted tomove under the influence of gravity to engage the shoulder 67, and isnot disengaged from theplunger 57 until the bar 36 is returned by theoperator. When the bar 36 is permitted to return by the operator torelease the plunger 57, the

valve 20 is lowered together with the valve stem while, at the-sametime, the rotary valve 22 is being rotated. This operation of closingthe valve '20 prevents the inlet of additional liquid into the measuringcup preliminary to the opening of the port 24, and during the finalportion of the movement of the valve 22 the port 23' of the valve isbrought into registry with the port 24 of the measuring cup to permitthe liquid in the cup to drain therefrom.

In order to insure movement of the plunger 57 until the catch 69 engagesand locks the plunger, the bar 36 is preferably locked against reversemovement until it has been completely withdrawn by the operator. It willbe observed from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 6, that the upper edge ofthis'bar is ratcheted as at 78, and a pawl 79 is normally held inengagement with the ratchet by means of a spring pressed plunger 80 positioned above the fulcrum 81 of the pawl. The pawl is mounted upon a dending portion 82 of a bar 83 extending etween and supported uponstandards 13. The plunger 80 maintains the pawl in engagement with theratchet, thus preventing reverse movement of the bar 36 until anupwardly and forwardly extending arm 84 upon the bar 36 engages a pin 85upon the rear end of the pawl and raises the pawl. The bar 36 is thenfree to return until the influence of a spring 86. secured at one end toa hook 87 depending from the bar 83, and at its other end to a ;hook 88upon the rear end of an upwardly extending arm 89 having a horizontallyextending portion 90 adapted to engage a pin 91 upon the forward end ofthe pawl when the bar 36 has fully returned, and thereby again to bringthe pawl into engagement with the ratchet. It should be understood thatthe plunger-57 is not re leased by its cat-ch 69- until the bar 36 hascompleted the major'portion ofits return movement, and as a result, thepush rod 50, which returns to its normal position with the bar 36,completes at least a portion of its return movement while the plunger 57is stationary. The coin which, up to the time the push rod 50 starts itsreturn movement,

has been held between the end of the push rod and the end of theplunger, is thus released when the push rod starts its reverse movementand drops into a coin box 92 beneath the platform or base 10.

In dispensing cofiee, tea and similar liquids it is desirable todispense, at the same time, an additional liquid, such as cream, whichis to be mixed with the coder. or tea. For this purpose there isassociated with the above described operating mechanism a containerwhich may be employed for the retention of a, liquid, such as cream, andmeans for discharging the liquid from the container, which means isconnected with the operating mechanism so as to be actuated t e reby. Byreference. to Fig. 4: it will be base 10 a container 93 having thereinsuit able insulating means 94 surrounding a chamber 95 in which may belocated a cooling, means, such as ice or a cold liquid. The chamber 95surrounds a cream container 96 in the lower end of which is positioned aobserved that there is positioned upon the i cylinder 97 supported bysuspension rods 98 extending downwardly from the top 99 of thecontainer. To the top "of the container is connected, by means -oit' acoupling 100, a discharge tube 101 which extends forwardly and has itsoutlet adjacent the outlet of the coffee discharge tube 24:. A piston105 works within the cylinder 97 and its stem 106 projects upwardlythrough the cover or the container, :1. bearing 107 for the piston rodbeing provided in the cover, which is rigidly secured to the top of thecontainer. The container is also provided with a removable cover 108permitting the ready deposit of cream into the receptacle withoutdisturbing the fixed cover 99.

The upper end of the piston rod has thereon a cross arm 109 (Figs. 1 and5) upon which, at opposite sides of the piston red, are positionedrollers 110, and a stop collar 111 upon the piston rod is adapted toengage the upper end of the bearing for the purpose of varying thelength of the piston stroke, the collar Ming adjustable along the pistonrod for thispurpose. The piston has therein (Fig. 4) an-opening 105through which projects an extension 101 of the discharge pipe so thatupon reci roc'ation of the piston within the cylinder t e cream admittedto the cylinder through openings 119 upon the upward movement of thepiston is subsequently, upon the downward stroke of the piston, forcedupwardly through the discharge pipe. The actuating mechanism isconnected with the piston rod to reciprocate the piston by means of agas ' out of the cylinder cured upon the outer end of rock shaft 161 andenmnding upwardly from the Pooh: shaft. The rocker arm is connected bymeans of a link 114 to the outer end of a reciproeable shaft 115 whichextends through a bearing 116 in the upper end of a lorachet 117 (Fig.4) mounted upon one of the rods 13. The end of the reeiproeable shaft115 carries a yoke 118 having depend ing parallel side plates on theinner faces 0 which are carried tracks 119, each track heing pivotallymounted at 120 upon one of the side walls and carrying, at its forwardend, studs 121 projecting through an arcuate slot 122 in a side wall.The normal position of the tracks is shown clearly in Fi 3, and uponmovement of the shaft 115 t e tracks are carried beneath the cross arm109 upon the end of the piston red, the rollers upon the rod ridingupwardly over the track as the rod is carried forwardly. The piston isthereby moved upwardly until the tracks are carried to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the piston within the pump 0 linderis free to move downwardly under t e influence of gravity and to forcethe cream which has been admitted into the cplinder by openings 112through the dis- 0 arge pipe extensions 101'. Upon the return movementof the shaft 115 and the yoke the tracks 119 e ing the cross arm '109are lifted upward y about their pivots 120. It will be observed that thecream is forced 97 during the return movement of the shaft 115 and whilethe rack 64 is closing the valve 20 in the cofiee urn preliminary toopenin the drain port 24 in the measurin cup. bus the cream is deliveredbefore t ,e outlet port 24 of the measuring cup is opened and the coffee.or other flu1d is permitted to flow from the measuring cup.

In using the apparatus, the operator, prior to pulling the bar 36 bymeans of hen dle 39, inserts a check in slot 53 which is directed by thecoin chute to a position in front of the push rod 50. Upon withdrawal ofthe operating bar 36. the push rod engages the coin and by means of thecoin carries the plunger 57 rearwardl in its sup-' porting sleeve. Theoperating must be completely withdrawn since prior reverse motion isprevented by means of latch or wl 79, and upon complete withdrawal ofthe operating bar the lunger 57 is locked in position by means of atch69. By this time the measuring cup fdrain port. 24 has been closed 10rotary valve 22 and the inlet valve 20 has been raised to admit-1 fluidinto the measuring cup. When the operator releases the handle 39 spring86 returns the operating bar and push rod 50 to the position'showniii-"Fig; 3, the pawl 79 ha'vingbeen raised upon complete withdrawal ofthe 0 rating bar to re'leasethe same byfmeans 0 arm 84 u inates whichengages pin 85 upon the pawl. During return movement at the operatingbar and push rod 50 the plunger 57 is locked in position b means oilatch 69, and thus the valves an operating raclzs 6 1 are stationar Asthe push rod 50 returns the coin is re eased and drops into coin box 92through an opening (not shown) in the platform. During the operation ofthe plunger and push rod by means of the operating her the shaft 115, asby means of the inclined tracks 119, raises the cream pump piston. andwhile the push rod and operating bar are returning to normal positionthe pump piston descends under the influence of gra vit and forces thecream through discharge pipe 101 into a cup which may be positioned,- asshown in Fig. 2, beneath the open end of the discharge pipe.

When the operating bar reaches its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3,the arm 71 thereon engaging pin 70 upon the latch 69 raises the latterand permits sprin 72' to return the plunger to its position s lOWIl inFig. 3;. at the same time the rack 64 is operated to impart to thepinion 32 a reverse rotation which initially draws downwardly and closesthe valve 20 to shut oi! the measuring cup from the coffee container,and 'then brings port 23 of the rotary valve 22 into registry with thedrain port 24, thus permitting the coffee to dram from the measuringcup.

It should be observed that the latch 69 is not recessed until theoperating bar has completed at least sufiicient portion of its returnmotion to insure the coin being-dropped into the coin box 92, and thusdraining of the measuring cup is prevented until the coin is depgsitedin the coin box. Moreover, it will observed that the pawl 79 insurescomplete outward movement of the operating bar before it can bereturned, whereby thus repeated and quick movement of the valves withonly one coinin order to obtain more than the 'predetermined amount ofcoffee or other fluid is prevented, since the rack 64 cannot operate thevalve in the messuring cup'until the operating bar has returned to its.normal position shown in Fig. 3.

Emphasis is laid upon the extreme simpllicity of the structuredisclosed, and upon 1; e eliminating thg necessity for power a hanoe'foroperating the mechanism. ion the measuring cup or valves are to becleaned itsis simply necessary to release the valve stem 21in its socketin the up 1' end \of the valve stem extension 26, whic is accomplishedby removing set screw 27, and the valve 20 and valve 22 may then he removedin order to permit cleaning of the measuring on and of the valves.

It should understood that numerous fact'that the operation is a manualone,

i the outside of enemas modifications may be made in the structure lyoperable means common to both confarmers for operating said valve andpiston, said means comprising a rock shaft, arms fixedly secured to saidshaft, a rack pivotof said arms, a pinion connected to said valve and inengagement with said rack, means connected to the other of said arms foractuating said pump piston, and check controlled means for rocking saidshaft.

2. In a device of the class described, a liquid container, areciprocable piston for forcin liquid from said container, a rod securto said piston having a portion on on said portion of the rod, movingsaid piston and rod com rising a shaft reciprocable in a direction suantially at right angles to the line of movement of said piston rod, aninclined track on said reciprocable rod positioned to pass beneath saidcross arm and to move the piston during the movement of the reciprocableshaft in one direction.

3. in a device of the class descri, a liquid container, 2. reciprocablepiston for forcing liquid from said container, a rod secured to saidpiston having a portion on the outsideof said container, a cross arm onsaid portion of the rod, and means for movlng said piston and rodcomprising a shaft reciprocable in a direction substantially at rightangles to the line of movement of said piston rod, an inclined track onsaid reciprocable shaft positioned to pass beneath said cross arm and tomove the piston during the movement of the reciprocable shaft in onedirection.

4. A vending machine as specified in claim 2, said means for actuatingthe pump piston comprising a shaft reciprocableat substantially rightangles to the line of: movement of sa d piston, an inclined track uponsaid rod, and a cross arm upon the piston rod, said track passingbeneath said arm and raising the piston during movement of thereciprocable shaft in one direction.

5. A vending machine as specified in claim 1, said mean for actuatingthe ump piston comprising a shaft recl rocab e at substanitally rightangles to t e line of movement of said (piston, an inclined track uponsaid rod, an a cross arm upon the piston rod, said track passing beneathsaid said barin one said container, a cross arm and means for,

arm and raising the iston during movement of the reciprocable s aft inone direction.

6. A vendin machine comprising a plurality of liqui containers, meansfor pumpin liquid from one of said containers, a va ve for controllingthe gravity discharge of liquid from the other of said containers, andactuating devices common to said valve means and said pumping means,said actuating devices comprising a rock shaft operatively connected toboth of said means, a plunger connected to said rock shaft to actu' atethe shaft, and a manually operable reciprocable bar, a connectionbetween said bar and plunger permitting movement of direction to movethe plunger in the opposite direction, said connection permitting atleast partial'reverse movement of the manually operable barindependently of the plunger.

7. A. vending machine comprising a pluralit of liquid containers, meansfor pumpin iquid from one of said containers, a

va ve for controlling the grzivity discharge of liquid from the other ofsaid containers, and actuating devices common to said valve means andsaid pumping mans, said actuating device comprising a rock shaftoperatively connected to both of said means, a plunger plvotallyconnected to said rock shaft to actuate the shaft, a manually operablereciprocable bar, a connection between said bar and plunger permittingmovement of said second bar in one direction to cause the plu or to movein the opposite direction, sai connection permitting at least partialreverse movement of the bar independently of the plunger, means forlockmg said manually operable bar against re plunger connected to saidrock shaft to actu-' ate the shaft, a manually operable reciprocablebar, plunger permitting movement of sand second bar in one direction tocause the plunger to move in the opposite direction, said connectionpermitting at least partial reverse movement of the bar independently ofthe plunger, means for locking said bar against reverse movement untilit has completed its initial movement, and means for locking the plungeragainst its reverse movement until a connection between said bar andlocking means when the bar completes the bar has at least started itsreverse movement, and means upon the bar for releasing said plungerlOcking means.

9. A vending machine comprising a plurality of liquid containers, meansin association with each container for discharging lie uid therefrom,and actuating devices common to both containers comprising a roolr shaftoperatively connected with each container discharging means, areciprocahle manually operable actuating bar for said rock shaft,locking means for preventing reverse movement of said bar until it hascompleted its full initial stroke in one direction, means for renderinginoperative said its initial movement in said direction, and means foragain rendering operative said locking means when the bar completes itsreverse movement.

10. A vending machine comprising a plurality of liquid containers, meansin association with each container for discharging liquid. therefrom,and actuating devices common to both containers comprising a rock shaftoperatively connected with each container discharging means, areciprocahle completes naea aa manually operalole actuating bar for saidroolr shalt, locking means for preventing reverse movement of said loaruntil it completed its full initial stroke in one direction, means onsaid her for rendering inoperative said locking means when the her itsinitial movement in said direction, and means on said her for againrendering operative said locking means when the bar completes itsreverse movement.

ii. A vending machine as specified in claim 10, having a reciprocahleplunger forming a connection between said loar and said rock shaft, saidplunger beingmovahle simultaneously with said bar butin an oppositedirection, and means for temporarily locking said plunger at thecompletion of its initial movement in one direction, said looking meansbeing releasable only when the bar has substantially completed itsreverse movement, the connecting means between said her and plungerrmitting reverse movement of the bar in ependently of said plunger.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN FRICK.

has

